Madrid will host the Spanish Grand Prix starting in 2026, replacing Barcelona, which has been the venue since 1991.
The race will take place on a new 5.47 km circuit near the Ifema exhibition center and Barajas airport. This change marks Madrid’s first time hosting the event since 1981 at the Jarama circuit.
Formula 1 is committed to achieving ‘net-zero’ greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and says the new venue will make the race one of the most accessible, with 90% of fans able to use public transport. The agreement for Madrid to host the Grand Prix extends until 2035.
The Spanish Grand Prix, one of the oldest races first held in 1913, was previously hosted in Jerez from 1986 to 1990. The new track in Madrid will feature 20 corners and blend street-circuit and road-course sections, catering to 110,000 fans daily with future expansion plans to increase capacity to 140,000.
F1’s resurgence in Spain is partly due to Fernando Alonso’s return and Carlos Sainz’s success with Ferrari. Sainz notably won the 2023 Singapore Grand Prix, the only non-Red Bull driver to win that year.
F1 is still in talks with Barcelona about hosting future races. FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem and F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali praised Madrid’s commitment to sustainability and its potential to create a multi-day sporting and entertainment event.
